Point of Grace Worship        11.27.22     Sermon Notes – “Advent 1 – What’s the Story?” 

What’s the Story?  

What story is my story in?

Advent (means – “coming”)

Looks back…… Where have we come from?  ….  Identity

Looks around …… Where are we now?   ….   Belonging

Looks forward …… Where is my story going? ….  Purpose

Luke 4  14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 

Jesus invites the people of Nazareth to believe that they were a part of His Story!

Jesus was the “who” they needed to bring the “what’s” their story demanded! 

Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,  because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and
                      release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and
    provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and
                                    a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 

Jesus invites us to believe that He is the “who” who brings the “what’s” our story needs?

Jesus invites us to live like He is the “who” who brings the “what’s” our story needs?